Alright, everybody. Back with another chapter. This will be a shorter one.

So, this chapter is going to be important. You'll see why soon enough.

Let's get to it.

Guest DCDGojira: I do plan to include that scene in the second story. I have actually already got a title for the second story. And yes, Terran fighters are now built to have astromech droids. Stan Lee style cameos would be by George Lucas. And yes, there will be a timeline page on the wiki.

Lorenzo Ferrari: There wont be a Space Battleship Yamato like from the anime, but there may be a Terran warship named Yamato in the second story.

CT7567Rules: No, the Separatist leaders will still meet the same fate from the movie. And yes, the SF-15 is the F-15E Strike Eagle converted to a multirole starfighter. Although, technically the B and D variants of the F-15 are also two seaters. And the Terrans may develop such weapons.

Peter Hong Kong: We'll definitely see drones in the second story. Thrawn will make a cameo or two, and Terra will definitely be interesting for him.

Chapter 66- Betrayed

(July 24, 1994)

Fives sets up in a new position, again zooming in on Palpatine's office using his helmet's systems.

After being called to the Pentagon, Fives received briefings and training, including with his new suit of Mandalorian armor, which is painted in the colors and symbols of Darth Maul's warriors. He departed Terra on the 6th, arriving on Coruscant late on the 22nd.

Yesterday, the 23rd, Fives had begun his assignment, which was to conduct reconnaissance and attempt to get a good handle on Palpatine's daily routines and movements, and feed it back to a Mossad analyst assigned to Operation Ashla, who would use the information to determine the opportune moment for the two Kidon assassins to strike. The current plan called for the assassination to take place in 4 days, on July 28th.

Ever since he began his reconnaissance, Fives has felt a sense of grim satisfaction. Ever since his encounter with Palpatine all those months ago on Coruscant, he's known that Palpatine had to be killed. Now, he's getting to play a role in the death of a truly dangerous individual.

As he's musing on this, Fives suddenly sees something. Zooming in a little closer, he sees Mace Windu, Saesee Tiin, Agen Kolar, and Coleman Kcaj walk into Palpatine's office, and Palpatine turns around to talk to them. Fives watches as they remain still for several moments, then the four Jedi Masters draw and ignite their lightsabers.

"They must have figured out Palpatine's up to something," Fives mutters to himself.

Then, Palpatine stands up, and a second later, ignites a red bladed lightsaber. In that instant, the fear that Palpatine is the secret Sith Master is confirmed to Fives.

Then, Palpatine leaps forward, landing right in front of the four Jedi Masters. With two quick strokes, he cuts down Agen Kolar, then Saesee Tiin.

Mace and Coleman attack Palpatine, slashing at him and parrying his blows. However, after several quick moves, Palpatine gets under Coleman's guard and slashes his saber across his chest, killing the Jedi and leaving Mace as the only one left.

Fives is shocked at the speed with which Palpatine killed three Jedi Masters. As he watches, he sees Palpatine pressing his attack, forcing Mace down the short hallway to the main part of his office.

Fives activates his jetpack, flying around the Senate building to another building that has a line of sight to the main part of Palpatine's office. As he lands, he sees Mace and Palpatine exchanging blows, and Palpatine leaping up and using his large comm platform as a spring board.

The two clash with their lightsabers, struggling against each other with their faces just inches away from each other. Then, Mace puts a little extra force into it and forces Palpatine back. He strikes again, and the duel continues, taking over by the main window.

Fives draws his blaster rifle, wanting to help, but a little worried about hitting Mace. However, at the same time, Mace seems to be doing alright.

As he watches, Mace deflects one of Palpatine's strikes, and Palpatine's saber strikes the glass, causing the window to shatter. As the shards fly everywhere, Mace takes advantage of the distraction and presses his attack, increasing the ferocity of his attacks After just a few strikes, Mace disarms Palpatine, sending Palpatine's lightsaber flying out the broken window and knocking Palpatine backwards.

Palpatine scrambles back to the corner of the window. Mace hurries forward, levelling his saber and pointing it right at Palpatine's throat.

"Good job, General Windu," Fives says, smiling under his helmet.

Fives watches as Mace seems to be saying something to Palpatine. Then, to his surprise, Anakin walks into view.

"General Skywalker. You couldn't have shown up a little earlier?" he mutters to himself, not knowing the discussion between Anakin and Mace less than half an hour ago, and what Palpatine had earlier said to Anakin.

Fives watches as the three seem to exchange several words. Then, without warning, Palpatine releases bolts of lightning from his hands.

Fives starts a bit in surprise, but Mace quickly blocks the lightning with his lightsaber. He and Palpatine struggle for a good 20 seconds, with Mace struggling to keep the lightning at bay, and Palpatine trying to overcome Mace through sheer force. However, Palpatine is slowly losing the fight, as some of the reflected lightning is arcing back at him, slowly distorting and scarring his face.

Finally, Palpatine ceases the lightning, and collapses back against the edge of the window, gasping. Mace again levels his lightsaber at Palpatine.

Fives watches intently, knowing now that Mace is going to kill Palpatine. However, he sees Anakin start to speak. Based on his and Mace's subsequent movements, Fives quickly realizes they're arguing about something. But what about, he can't fathom.

"Come on, Generals. What are you waiting for?" Fives asks to himself.

After just a few more moments, Mace finally draws back his lightsaber. However, as he's about to bring it down on Palpatine, Anakin suddenly ignites his lightsaber and brings it up, cutting off Mace's hand. Mace's lightsaber falls out of the broken window as Mace clutches at his hand stump, screaming in pain.

"What the h***!" Fives shouts, even though nobody can hear him.

Then, Palpatine raises his hands, and again casts lightning at Mace. With no saber to protect him, Mace takes the full force of the lightning.

Fives reacts instinctively and activates his jetpack, flying towards Palpatine's office. However, as he flies towards the office, Palpatine releases an extra surge of lightning, which throws Mace out of the window.

Immediately, Fives alters course, flying down after Mace as he begins to fall. A couple hundred feet off the ground, Fives finally catches up to Mace. He slings his arms underneath mace's armpits, securing a tight hold on him, then pulls up and fires his jetpack even more, slowing him down enough to make a soft landing.

Fives sets Mace down. Mace is in extreme pain, and it takes him a minute before he starts to regain his senses. When he does, he looks up and sees Fives in his suit.

"A Mandalorian?" he asks in a strained voice.

Fives shakes his head and removes his helmet. "No, General Windu. It's me, ARC trooper Fives. Although now, it's 2nd Lieutenant Fives," Fives says.

Mace looks surprised. "What are you doing here?" he asks.

Fives decides to tell Mace the truth. "In December, the Council of Five back on Terra decided that Palpatine was getting too suspicious and too powerful, and they were worried he was the Sith Lord, especially after what I told them he told me in secret. Since December, they've been planning to assassinate Palpatine. I was sent here to conduct reconnaissance to help the assassination team in the attempt," Fives says.

Mace looks very surprised, but his surprise quickly fades away. Looking back, Palpatine had been very suspicious of late, and knowing the mindset of the Terrans, he's not surprised they would attempt something like this. Nor does he blame based on what he now knows.

"Stay here, for a minute, General. I'll be back," Fives says, and he takes off again.

Mace steps back into an alley, keeping out of sight, wondering how this all could've happened, and how they could have not realized this sooner.

A minute later, Fives pulls up in front of him in a stolen speeder. "Come on!" Fives says. Mace hurries forward and hops in beside Fives.

Fives immediately sets off for the Terran Coruscant HQ. As he heads in that direction, Fives says, "I'm taking us to the Terran HQ here on Coruscant. I've already sent a message ahead to them ordering them to evacuate. There's shuttle waiting there for us. We have to get off this planet as soon as possible."

"We need to try and contact the Jedi Temple," Mace says.

"I know. I've already tried, but something's wrong, and the transmission couldn't connect. I asked the guys at our HQ to try and get through whatever interference there is," Fives says. He pauses, then says, "Oh, and I went and got this for you." As he says this, he holds out Maces lightsaber.

Mace reaches out and takes the lightsaber with his one remaining hand. He looks at it for a moment before looking at Fives and saying, "Thank you."

Fives just nods. Then, he raises his wrist up and says into his commlink, "General Powell, this is Lieutenant Fives. Our suspicions about Cobra are true, and he has revealed himself. I am retreating from Coruscant. Alert all Terran forces. S***'s about to hit the fan."

And, I'll end there.

So, I know there's been some debate for a few years as to whether or not Mace Windu could've survived his fall. So, I decided in this story to have Mace live, and having a Terran operative in Mandalorian armor catch him seemed the best way to do that.

So, Fives has begun spreading the word. But, we're still gonna have to wait for Order 66 until Chapter 68. Next chapter, Chapter 67, is actually going to cover the end of the Siege of Mandalore and the return of Maul. I hope you're excited for it.

Next chapter will be up tomorrow. Until then, leave a review, and stay tuned!